In the town square, a fiery young woman known as Carmen appears from the crowd with a dance which captivates the attention of all the men including one soldier in particular. When the soldier believes Carmen's heart belongs to him, he later finds her seducing the victorious matador. The matador yearns for her body, while the soldier fights for her love. Carmen's inability to be tamed provokes the soldier into an outburst of rage, eventually leading to her demise.